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Sweden's pioneering paternity leave

Fifty years ago Sweden became the first country in the world to offer paid parental leave that was gender neutral.

Fifty years ago Sweden became the first country in the world to offer paid parental leave that was gender neutral.

The state granted mothers and fathers 180 days that they could divide between them however they saw fit.

The pioneering policy was designed to promote gender equality, but it wasn’t an instant success.

Later governments decided to increase the number of leave days available and ring-fenced some specifically for each parent.

Maddy Savage went to meet Per Edlund who was one of the first fathers in his town, Katrineholm, to embrace the new benefit.

A Bespoken Media production for the BBC World Service.

(Photo: Per Edlund with his youngest daughter Märta Edlund. Credit: Maddy Savage)

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Thu 4 Apr 202402:50GMT
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